Plattegrond van Pinerolo, 1726 1726

This is an ink drawing of ‘Plattegrond van Pinerolo’, dating back to 1726, created by an anonymous artist. The work presents a bird's eye view of Pinerolo with a geometric precision, emphasizing the city's fortifications and layout. The intricate linework creates a network of shapes and patterns; from the jagged city walls to the organic curves of the surrounding landscape. We are presented with a composition dominated by structured forms and careful arrangement of space. This tension between organic and geometric form serves as a semiotic system that communicates the city's relationship with its environment. The map challenges traditional representations by reducing the city to a series of interconnected forms and lines. This approach invites the viewer to decode the underlying structure and spatial relationships within the urban environment. In its cartographic form, this drawing functions as a tool for understanding and controlling space, yet simultaneously, its aesthetic qualities elevate it beyond mere functionality, engaging us in a broader discourse about power, knowledge, and perception.